Impact of Workplace Discrimination on Tesco Employee Performance

This research project investigates the impact of workplace discrimination on employee performance and productivity within Tesco Plc. It begins with an introduction defining workplace discrimination and its negative effects, emphasizing the importance of equality and diversity. The research aims to identify the problems related to workplace discrimination, determine the factors leading to it, and explore the issues faced by employees. Furthermore, it seeks to identify strategies that management can implement to mitigate these issues. The literature review examines existing research on the subject, highlighting the causes and consequences of discrimination, including gender, racism, and other forms of bias. The methodology section outlines the research framework, employing a positivism philosophy and a deductive approach with a qualitative survey strategy. The report also details data analysis, research outcomes, and concludes with recommendations for addressing workplace discrimination and improving employee performance and productivity. This project aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and potential solutions related to workplace discrimination within the organization, offering valuable insights for both employees and management.

Research Project
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Research Aim...............................................................................................................................4
Research Objectives.....................................................................................................................4
Research questions.......................................................................................................................4
Rationale......................................................................................................................................4
Literature Review............................................................................................................................5
To understand about problem related to workplace discrimination in business unit..................5
To determine the factor that leads to workplace discrimination and impacts on performance of
employees in Tesco Plc...............................................................................................................5
To determine the issues faced by employees of Tesco company because of workplace
discrimination..............................................................................................................................6
To identify the strategies that can be used by management in order to resolve problems related
with the workplace discrimination...............................................................................................7
Methodology and Data Collection...................................................................................................7
Data analysis and interpretations.....................................................................................................9
Research Outcomes.......................................................................................................................17
Reflection & Recommendation of alternative research methodology...........................................17
Conclusion and Recommendations................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20
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INTRODUCTION
Workplace discrimination is defined as treating employees differently, or less favourably for
some of the reasons. It take place when an employer discriminates against staff members in
context to work related decisions like promotions, hiring, availability of benefits, firing and so
on. Equality and diversity is defined as giving everyone the chance to progress to the best of their
capability regardless of gender, race, age and disability. Equality is working in an organization
that gives the same human rights to every employee. On the other hand, diversity is recognizing
that everyone is different an is able to co-exist with each other instead of the differences. In
addition to this, equality promotes motivation, increasing productivity, retention of employees,
enhancement of brand image and so on. There are various practices of equality and diversity
which assist an organization to decline the level of workplace discrimination in an effective
manner. It is important for a company to focus on declining discrimination at workplace as it
impacts negatively on the performance and mind-set of staff members (Berrey, Nelson and
Nielsen, 2017). For conducting the present research, Tesco is chosen as a base company. It is a
British multinational groceries I’m general merchandise retailer which was founded in year 1919
and headquarter in England, United Kingdom. The company has more than 6800 shops globally
which shows it has high market presence and markets share. The report will cover about the
understanding and the impact of workplace discrimination on performance and productivity of
employees. In addition to this, it describes the factors and the issues faced by staff members due
to workplace discrimination. The research includes appropriate research methods as well as
approaches for collecting the data. Moreover, a reflection is elaborated which shows the
effectiveness of research methods applied in order to meet objectives. In the last, some of the
recommendations and the alternative research methodology is given in order to view the
outcomes in a proper manner.
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Research Aim
“To identify the impact of work place discrimination on productivity and performance of
employees in business origination” A study on TESCO Plc.
Research Objectives
 To understand about problems related to workplace diversity in business firm.
 To determine the factors that leads to workplace discrimination and impact on
performance of employees in TESCO Plc.
 To determine the issues faced by employees because of workplace discrimination in Tesco
Plc.
 To identify strategies that can be used by management to solve issues related to workplace
discrimination.
Research questions
 What are the problems related to workplace diversity in business firm?
 What the factors that leads to workplace discrimination and impact on performance of
employees in TESCO Plc.?
 What are the issues faced by employees because of workplace discrimination in Tesco Plc.?
 What are the strategies that can be used by management to solve issues related to workplace
discrimination?
Rationale
One of the main reason to choose this topic is to gain understanding about the impact of
workplace discrimination on the performance and productivity of employees. In the present time,
it is important for every individual to know about this concept so that they can sustain in the
corporate world for longer time period. It is an important topic as due to increase in workplace
discrimination many of the staff members lose their confident and their efficiency declines.
Another reason is to improve the research skills, time management skills, communication skills
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and so on. This research also assist investigator to know about how to collect data and interpret it
in order to gain valid and reliable conclusion.
Literature Review
To understand about problem related to workplace discrimination in business unit.
Discrimination at workplace arises with so many reasons and mainly occur when an
employee is treated as unfavourable due to some reasons such as gender, sexuality, race religion
and so many other aspects. According to the view point of Berrey, Nelson and Nielsen, (2017).
Discrimination is that factor which lowers the rate of production and productivity of company
along with employees. Additionally, when it occurs the turnover ratio of employee within a
company is also increased. As no one would like to work at that place where they are not treated
equally. This ultimately affects the overall performance and image of company. The values and
reputation of firm is totally realise on the performance of company and their employees. So if
they are not performing well then no one will like that firm as well as not like to work there. The
most common cause of discrimination at workplace is due to gender. This is the most prominent
factor that is found at workplace due to this the workers face some kind of disability. Another
reason of discrimination is because of racism and due to this employees will harassed also. In
opposing, it become vital for all companies to avoid such types of discrimination as it affects
productivity of employees and that ultimately affects the overall performance of company. So in
order to meet the desired goal, Tesco Plc. need to dodge such kind of discrimination.
To determine the factor that leads to workplace discrimination and impacts on performance of
employees in Tesco Plc.
As per viewpoint of author Colella and King (2018), there are ample number of factor
which causes discrimination at workplace. In which some of the factors are related with the
employees performance where as other are related with the racism, gender, sex, etc. so that most
common is due to sex discrimination. In this the employees of firm are treated unfavourable
based on gender. For instance in production department Tesco Plc. also hires men not the
women. So this is not fair. They should recruit all individual as per their skills, experience and
knowledge. In relevance to this there are different types of discrimination that is faced by the
employees within organisation such as direct and indirect. Direct discrimination occur when
company pay higher to one individual with no good reason as compare to other. It occurs when
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someone is treated less favourable as compare to other. On the other hand indirect take place
when certain rules and regulation impose on certain workers at disadvantage. So all these are the
factors by which discrimination established in enterprise (Dhanani, Beus and Joseph, 2018). All
these factor affects the efficiency of workers and due to which they will not able to perform their
task with full strength and goal will not be achieved in stipulated timeframe. In opposition to
this, there are various law made by government for avoiding such kind of discrimination at
workplace such as equality Act 2010, protected characteristics, enforcement, complaining again
discrimination, by creating policies of equal opportunity. All these could help the management
team of company for maintaining employee performance along with profitability of firm.
To determine the issues faced by employees of Tesco company because of workplace
discrimination.
There are certain number of issues that is faced by the employees of company due to
discrimination in which the most common is decrement in working efficiency as it lower the
motivation rate of employees and that directly impose adverse effect on their performance.
Another issues faced by them are interpersonal conflicts, miscommunication, bullying, leg
pulling harassment and many other problems. According to the viewpoint of Cockayne (2018),
high level discrimination tends to low level of motivation in employee and due to which
employee lose their interest in job by which performance of company got obstruct. In relevance
to this, problem related with communication is arises due to presence of various lag between
communication. By which miscommunication occur and the task will not get complete on time.
In an organisation there are various task that need to be carry out in a team or group and due to
interpersonal conflicts that task will not get success. In contradictory the management team of
Tesco Plc. need to consider all these issues of employee and need to resolve that for maintaining
the productivity and profitability of firm. In order to enhance the motivation level they need to
provide some training and development programs, encourage them for their performance instead
of discrimination, provide them equal treatment and opportunities so that they will able to feel
that all employees of company are same.
To identify the strategies that can be used by management in order to resolve problems related
with the workplace discrimination.
As per Agrawal (2018), in context of this there are several strategies that can be opt by
the management team of Tesco Plc. for avoiding or resolving negative impact of workplace
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discrimination. By providing equal treatment to all employees, it can be avoided. Employee
engagement is another strategies that can be used by the higher level executives of company in
order to reduce the negative impact of discrimination. By taking grievance from all employees it
can be resolve as it help in determining the current situation of company. From these they can
analyse that problem of discrimination and address that with the aim of lowering the rate of
turnover ratio and for improving employee performance. Performance measurements is another
strategies that could be used by management team for determining the performance of employees
in order to meet the pre-defined goal and for the determination whether the task is performed in
right manner or not. After analysing it, the role of management team is to provide right guidance
& path to their workers so that they will able to perform in well manner (Colella and King,
2018). Apart from this, another strategies could be adoption of equality act 2010, complaining
about discrimination to higher authorities, enforcement, creating policies related with the
equality opportunities, development & training programs. All these acts as strategies related with
the combating of workplace discrimination.
Methodology and Data Collection
Research methodology is significant for investigator to collect data about the influence of
workplace discrimination on performance and productivity of employees. The main objective of
this section is together valid and reliable information about the research topic. For identifying the
best approaches to collect data, research onion framework is most beneficial and useful model
that is used by researchers. This framework include various layers that is mentioned below:
Research philosophy: There are mainly two forms of research philosophies that is
positivism and interpretiviusm. It is stated that both types of philosophes are important but in
order to determine the influence of workplace discrimination on employee’s productivity,
positivism philosophy is more suitable as it helps in evaluating data in an effective manner
(Gassman‐Pines, 2015). In addition to this, it also assist in meeting different standards and
development of positive outcomes.
Research approach: This part of research is categorized into two parts that is deductive and
inductive research approach. As for the topic of research, deductive approach is used as it helped
in evaluating quantitative information in less time and cost as well. On the other hand, inductive
approach is not appropriate for the investigation as it does not provide accurate information
about the topic.
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Research strategy: There are many forms of research strategy such as case study,
qualitative survey, quantitative survey, action oriented research and so on. All this research
strategies are important but in the present research qualitative survey will be used by
investigators as it provide reliable and accurate data about the topic (Zambrana, 2020).
Research choice: The three main components of these functions are makes the method,
multimethod and mono method. The two types of research choice are quantitative and qualitative
and both are significant in order to identify the influence of workplace discrimination on
productivity and performance. Quantitative research is used by investigator as it helps in
collecting information that is based on facts, statistics and figures as well.
Time horizon: It is another significant part of research that identifies the starting and the
completion time of research activities(Yu, 2020). Herein, Gantt chart is undertaken as is active
graphical tool that will support researcher to analyze the starting time and closing time of
research activities in a proper manner.
Research instrument: Questionnaire is taken as one of the best research instrument that
will assist in accumulating valid and reliable information about the influence of workplace
discrimination on employees productivity and performance.
Data sources: There are mainly forms two forms of data collection sources that is primary
as well as secondary. In context of primary source, questionnaire will be used by researcher as it
support them together valid and reliable information about the topic. On the other side, articles,
journals, books, websites add applied by investigator as a secondary source in order to collect in
depth information about the topic. So, both primary and secondary sources are used for gathering
appropriate data about this study.
Research sampling: The two types of sampling method is probability sampling and non-
probability sampling. Both the sampling methods are important but as per the topic, random
sampling as a type of probability method is used by investigator (Gehrke and Feuerstein, 2017).
One of the main reason behind choosing this method is to provide equal chance to everyone.
With the help of random sampling, 40 employees of Tesco is selected as a participants in order to
conduct this research.
Research ethics: it is significant and important for investigator to complete every activity of
investigation in an ethical and systematic manner. In addition to this, there are basically three
principles of research ethics that is anonymity, informed consent and confidentiality. Following
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off all these principles assist researcher to complete investigation in an effective and systematic
manner.
Research reliability and validity: Reliability as well as validity of research is highly
depends on the instrument of primary research (Tebbe, Allan and Bell, 2019). In addition to this,
questionnaire is consider as one of the best instrument that will support researcher to collect
valid and reliable information about the influence of workplace discrimination on employees
productivity and performance.
Data analysis and interpretations
Questionnaire
Questionnaire
Q1) Do you have knowledge about the concept of workplace discrimination? Frequency
a) Yes 34
b) No 6
Q2) As per your opinion, is executing equality & diversity practices help
TESCO to decline discrimination at workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 32
b) No 8
Q3) According to you, what are the problems faced by management of Tesco
while executing equality and diversity practices in organisation?
Frequency
a) Generation gap 10
b) Gender biasness 13
c) Mental as well as Physical disabilities 17
Q4) What are the various strategies adopted by the higher authorities of
TESCO to decline workplace discrimination?
Frequency
a) Giving equal advantages to the staff members 10
b) Allow employees to participate in decision-making process 15
c)Providing training and development session to employees 15
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Q5) Do you think adoption of equality and diversity practices help in reducing
workplace discrimination from the organisation?
Frequency
a) Agree 30
b)Disagree 10
Q6 What are the major benefit acquired by Tesco Plc. by reducing workplace
discrimination?
Frequency
a) Decrement in turnover rate 12
b) Enhancement in goodwill 12
c) Improvement in operational efficiency. 16
Q7 According to you, is equality and diversity be the strategy for reducing
discrimination at workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 35
b) No 5
Q8 As per your viewpoint, what will be the impact of equality & diversity
implementation at workforce?
Frequency
a) Positive impact 20
b) Negative impact 15
c) Neutral 5
Q 9 What is the most common factors that leads to workplace discrimination? Frequency
a). Sex discrimination 10
b). Racial discrimination 15
c). Retaliation 15
Q10. Suggest some appropriate recommendation to management team of
Tesco Plc. for reducing discrimination at workplace.
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Analysis & Interpretation
Q1) Do you have knowledge about the concept of workplace discrimination? Frequency
a) Yes 34
b) No 6
Interpretation: From the above graph, it is analyzed at out of total 40 respondents, 34
participants have the knowledge about workplace discrimination in an organization. In addition
to this, the remaining 6 respondents have no idea about this concept. It is important for the
company to aware its employees about the discrimination in an effective manner.
Q2) As per your opinion, is executing equality & diversity practices help
TESCO to decline discrimination at workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 32
b) No 8
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Interpretation: By analyzing the above graph, it is stated that from the total 40
participants, 32 respondent is agree with the point that implementing Equality and diversity
practices assist respective organization to reduce workplace discrimination. On the other hand,
that 8 participants is perceived that implementing equality and diversity practices will not help in
declining workplace discrimination. It is analyze from the study that it is important for an
organization to develop and execute equality and diversity practices as it helps in reducing
discrimination, decline employee turnover and enhance productivity of an organization.
Q3) According to you, what are the problems faced by management of Tesco
while executing equality and diversity practices in organisation?
Frequency
a) Generation gap 10
b) Gender biasness 13
c) Mental as well as Physical disabilities 17
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